This May 8, Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope under the name of Léon XIV. The one who succeeds Pope Francis, who died on April 21, 2025, will boost the popularity of the first name Léon? Stéphanie Rapoport, author of the official names, gives us her opinion.
Robert Francis Prevost is the 267th pope and especially the first American pope in history. After his election during the conclave on May 8, 2025, he succeeded Pope Francis, who died on April 21. Whoever takes the head of the Catholic Church calls himself Léon XIV. So, could this male first name, already well positioned in 2025 trends, influence the choice of future parents? Because generally, when a public personality becomes known, the popularity of the first name in question soars in the months that follow. What about Pope Leon XIV? We asked Stéphanie Rapoport the question, the author of the work “The first name“Published by First Editions, and here is what she thinks.
You should know that since the 2000s, the first name Léon has been ascent. After a strong success at the very beginning of the 20th century, this male first name decinates considerably after 1920 where he had a peak in attributions with 3160 births. But this ancient first name, which means “lion” in Latin returns in force, and if he wins places in the classification of the most trendy first names, it will not be thanks to the new Pope, according to our specialist. “I would tend to answer that there will be no particular boost effect”she said. And this for several reasons …
“”We have a historical decline which makes it possible to say that the choices of names of the popes have not had any influence on the careers of first names in France for decades. John Paul II, who nevertheless worked for a long time as a sovereign Pontiff (from 1978 to 2005), could not overthrow the continuous decline of the first name Jean-Paul who was at his peak in 1951 (4,200 attributions). In 2005, it was barely given 30 times in French maternityities. Ditto for François who has continued his continuous decline since the 1960s and named less than 100 French per year today “she explains. Also, since the previous popes for recent decades have not generated any particular effect on first names, “we should not expect a particular effect,” said Stéphanie Rapoport. “The first name Léon is growing for other reasons: the enthusiasm for the Olympic Games and our national hero Léon Marchand”. Yes, the influencer is not always the one we believe!
In other words, the election of Pope Leo XIV will probably only coincide with the already well -installed popularity of the first name. Neither catalyst nor brake, this pontifical choice is part of a broader trend, carried by sporting figures or a taste found for retro first names. One thing is certain: Léon still has good years ahead of him in school lessons.
